Women's soccer opens postseason at Bellevue

LYNNWOOD -- For the first time since 2014 the Edmonds CC women's soccer program will play in the NWAC postseason, which begins Wednesday, October 31. The Tritons will make a short trip down I-405 and match up with the Bellevue College Bulldogs, the second-place finisher from the West Region. The Halloween playoff battle kicks off at 2 p.m.

Kailin Wiley

First-year head coach Adam Fenster and assistants Val Seid and Aaron Johnson have assembled a group that has made an impressive turnaround in less than one year. Read the recent article in the Everett Herald. Edmonds (9-6-2, 8-6-1 North) finished third in the North Region behind perennial power Peninsula and Whatcom this season after winning just two games in 2017.

The Trtions' front line has been key to their success. When healthy, Edmonds has four legitimate weapons in Kailin Wiley (Mukilteo, Wash.), Katy Ewoniuk (South Sandy, Utah), Alexis Griggs (Sultan, Wash.), and Julia Hart (Mountlake Terrace, Wash.). Ewoniuk has been the only player to stay healthy throughout the season. Wiley has been unstoppable at times in open space; she's netted 16 goals and has added seven assists. Ewoniuk is the second-leading scorer with 11 goals, and Griggs -- who has returned after fighting through injuries -- has scored five goals. Hart has also battled the injury bug, but has added four goals in the 2018 campaign.

Sophomore captain Alex Modica (Shoreline, Wash.) has set the tone with her work ethic. Lexi Ramirez (Lake Stevens, Wash.) has been consistent defensively, holding down the back line. Both Triton keepers -- Erikah Ledesma (Yakima, Wash.) and Sammy Miller-Foy (Edmonds, Wash.) -- have experience under their belts.

No matter Edmonds' finish, Fenster is pleased with the work they've accomplished this year. "We set a goal to make playoffs and we accomplished that goal. We are really happy about doing that the first season," he said. When asked about the Tritons' chances Fenster said, "This game is mental. We need to go out there and believe in ourselves, and we'll be fine. We're playing for each other."

Bellevue is the fifth-ranked team in the NWAC and has a formidable offensive attack as well. Led by Lauren Landis and Katelyn Evans, the Bulldogs are averaging 15 shots per game. Landis is the top goal scorer in the conference with 23, and ranks fourth in assists (10). Freshman keeper Taylor Thatcher has been very solid in goal; she sports a .889 save percentage.

The winner of Wednesday's first-round match advances to the NWAC quarterfinals against South Region champion and third-ranked Clark College on Saturday, November 3. Follow the Edmonds CC Tritons on Twitter for in game updates on Wednesday. Edmonds CC women's soccer won NWAC titles in 2000 and 2002.

NWAC Women's Soccer Championships website